Step-ladder.



A. J. KBTELSEN. STEP-LADDER. APPLIUATION"ETD-$91051 16, 1909.

Patented June 14,1910.

ANDREW J. KETELSEN, OF SAGI NAW, MICHIGAN. i

STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 12110.

Application filed October 16, 1909. Serial No. 522,993.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. KETnLsnx, a citizen of the Unlted States,residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan,have invented certainv new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to step ladders, and the principal object of thesame is to provide means for preventing the ladder from spreading whenin use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard rail for theladderwhich will lie close to the ladder when the ladder is folded, butwhich will automatically rise to a guarding position at one side of theladder when the latter is open for use.

'In carrying out the objects of the -invention generally stated above itwill be HIl'ClGT- stood, of course, that the essential features of thesame are necessarily susceptible of changes in details and structuralarrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment of which is shownin the accompanying drawings, wherein-:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved ladder as it appearsready for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same folded. Fig. 3 isa rear'view. Fig. 4c is a detail top plan view of the platform at thetop of the ladder. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertlcal sectional view takenon the line 55, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of oneend of one of the side members of the ladder. i

Referring to said drawings by numerals, 1'

. designates the side members of the improved,

ladder which have regularly spaced holding grooves 2 formed on thelrinner faces for the ends of the flat steps 3 which are rigidly fastenedtherein by the nails or other fasteners 4. The upper end of the sidemembers is provided with a reduced tenon15 the longitudinal sides (3 ofwhich are outwardly beveled. The top platform 7 of the ladder isprovided with ii centrally located notch 8 at each end the sides 9 ofwhich are on an inward incline." Said notches communicate with a flaringmortise 10 having beveled sides 11. The tenons 5 of the side member 1are fitted in said mortises 10 with their upper end flush with the uppersurface'of the platform 7. Transversely arranged braces 12 extend acrossthe under surface of the platform 7 adjacent 'eachend thereofand areheld in pos tion by thefpivot bar 13 which passes through tlie side'members l and said'braces 12., The'jends ofsaid pivot bar 13 projectbeyondthe outer surface. of each side member 1 and-serve as a pivotsupport for the brace legs 14-,15'. rThe brace leg 14 projects through;and beyond .the

guiding notch 8 and'has its projected'end pivotally connected to one endportion of a hand rail 16 which is parallel with one of the side members1 and has its other, or

lower end, pivotally connected to the outer end of a link 17 the innerend of which is pivotally. connected to said side member 1. The braceleg 15 has its upper end extended into its notch 8, the upper end ofsaid'leg 15 being cutaway so that it willbe substantially flush with theupper surface of the platform 7. I

As will be observed by reference to Fi 1, the notches 8 of the platform7- are sufficiently large enough to permit the necessary pivotalmovement of the brace legs 1l 15 so that they may be swung to an open orclosed position, but limits said pivotal'movements by con-tact of thesaid legs with the inclined sides of said notches so when in either anopen or a closed position, one edge of the legs will have a firmengagement with said inclined sides of the notches. As will be obviousthe use of the end notches obviates the necessity of employing links orthe like for connecting the legs 1 1-15 to the side'members for limitingthe opening movement of the ladder.

The legs 1415 are preferably braced by the crossed strips 18 and thehorizontal strip 19'. Also bars 20 may be employed in connection withthe side members 1 for reinforcing the same, said bars being locatedbeneath each step, one being shown in Figs. 18.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the ladder is in an openposition, as shown in Fig. 1, the hand rail 16 will be held parallelwith, but spaced from one of the side members so that an eflicient guardis provided foe-the user of the ladder, and when the ladder is folded,said rail will be close to the outer side of said member 1 so that butthe minimum of storage space is required for the ladder.

VVlvt I claim as my invention is I 1. A step ladder comprisingstationary ,side members, regularly spaced steps carried thereby, a topplatform rigidly con nected to the upper end of said members,

tion pivotally connected to the projected end of said leg, and apivotally mounted link connectin the other end of said rail to one ofsaid si e members.

2. A' step ladder comprising a step section, a platform for the upperend thereof provided with notches, brace legs pivotally connected tosaid step section and projectingthrough said notches and limited intheir pivotal movement by said notches, and a guard rail pivotallyconnected to one of said legs and to said step section 3. A step laddercomprising a stationary step section, a top platform therefor provided.with end notches, brace legs ivotally connected to said step section ansaid platform, said legs projecting into and limited in their pivotalmovement by said notches, and a guard rail pivotally coneenssv nected toone of said legs and one side of said step section.

4. A step ladder comprising stationary side members, steps carriedthereby, the upperend of said members being provided with a tenon, a topplatform provided with end mortises for said tenons and notchescommunicating with said mortises, transverse brace bars arranged on theunder side of said platform adjacent each end thereof, a pivot boltextending through said bars an side members, brace legs pivotally:mounted on said pivot boltand projecting into said notches, one of saidlegs projecting through and above its notch, a hand rail having one endportion pivotally connected to the projected end of said leg, and a linkhaving one end pivotally connected to the lower portionof one of saidside members and its other end pivotally connected to said hand rail.-

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my Witnesses:

J. S. BEACH, CLARA E. BOTTKE.

